I've pretty much stopped changing strings on electric guitars. Like, I'm not even sure if it changes anything in the sound. Either because I'm going deaf or the whole thing was a lie.

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:46 pm I've pretty much stopped changing strings on electric guitars. Like, I'm not even sure if it changes anything in the sound. Either because I'm going deaf or the whole thing was a lie.

Yeah man, I almost never change them and haven't broken one in years.

tallchris wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:09 pm

Kniferide wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:21 pm A gear confession I thought I would never make is, I'm over big/heavy amps. Small modeling pedal into a small poweramp like a Furman SP-20A into a speaker is fine and lighter.

I've pretty much come back around to if I'm only gonna play a show every month or two, fuck it, bring the heavy ass tube amp and the heavy big cab, instead of trying to do something lighter and smaller. Would/will definitely feel different if I ever play a couple shows in a row, but if it's only moving boxes around town I could use the exercise!

Dooder all my shit is down in a basement with a REALLY tricky staircase that has shattered one wrist already. I'm fine leaving all that shit down there. I never play shows anymore [/single tear] Also, you rock... I've never rocked. I barely roll.

LBx wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:47 pm

ErikG wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:18 pm

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 3:35 pm I think Peavey T-40, 60 etc. belong in the ugly instruments thread.

I find them ugly-sexy in a utilitarian way.

I have a black/maple T-45 that I think is quite fetching. Looks like this one:

That bridge is an eyesore for sure. But so is the Rick bridge kind of. Would love a Schaller on my 4000 but can't be bothered to swap/mod it.

Kind of in love with this:

(minus the pick up cover)

I'm with you on the Ric but respectfully disagree about the Peavey bridge. It adds to the battle-axe character of the thing. Strapping on one of those basses is a sure-fire way to let people know You Are Not Fucking Around.

*Ovation Magnum Bridge enters the chat*

Kniferide wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 8:32 pm

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:46 pm I've pretty much stopped changing strings on electric guitars. Like, I'm not even sure if it changes anything in the sound. Either because I'm going deaf or the whole thing was a lie.

Yeah man, I almost never change them and haven't broken one in years.

I mostly change strings to reduce the chance of breakage, not because of anything sound-wise. My amplified sound was pretty absurd for the last 10 years anyway. If I were confident they'd last longer I probably wouldn't change them much.

(I did have some flatwounds that stayed put but that was hardly a rockin' guitar..)

I bought a Mesa Boogie Mark V:35 1x12" combo about a month ago, and I feel a little dirty. It does kinda look good, though. I suppose I should post a review.


Mesa MarkV:35


Mesa MarkV:35

penningtron wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:10 am

Kniferide wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 8:32 pm

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 7:46 pm I've pretty much stopped changing strings on electric guitars. Like, I'm not even sure if it changes anything in the sound. Either because I'm going deaf or the whole thing was a lie.

Yeah man, I almost never change them and haven't broken one in years.

I mostly change strings to reduce the chance of breakage, not because of anything sound-wise. My amplified sound was pretty absurd for the last 10 years anyway. If I were confident they'd last longer I probably wouldn't change them much.

(I did have some flatwounds that stayed put but that was hardly a rockin' guitar..)

What? No Jesus!

Okay flats can stay on for years, and I get it if you are playing through a huge chain of pedals…..

But switch out half of them several weeks in if you are playing full time and you will hear the difference I swear

seby wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:29 am But switch out half of them several weeks in if you are playing full time and you will hear the difference I swear

It's not that there's no difference, it's whether that difference matters or is 'better'. Maybe if you play super clean or have some acoustic sound in your playback (archtop, semi hollow, etc) I could see it.

I've gone in that direction with drum heads too. Sure, replace it if it's severely cratered or 20 years old, but otherwise a little worn in isn't a bad thing. Ironically, the one head that should be replaced fairly often is the snare side (because it's the most delicate at 3mil) which is the one that tends to get ignored.

New strings definitely make the sound jump out of the monitors more for me. There’s so much happening in the midrange, it’s nice to be able to extend the top a little bit. I don’t really use EQ pedals, but I use drive/boost pedals at very low gain like a studio eq and compressor or something, so the new strings definitely help.

Except I am so bad about restringing my guitars - I usually can only record 9 pm - 2 or 3 am on weekends when my daughter is asleep, so unless I have time to lay out a guitar on the dinner table while everyone else is watching tv, I don’t make regular maintenance as much of a priority as I should.

It’s a good excuse to take your old dogs to the guitar shop during the week for a once over every once in a while - usually restringing the guitar and having them adjust action and intonation makes it feel like a new guitar, even if that’s spending $50 for something I could do myself.